Test Page

Dermatology and COVID-19

Last updated 27 April 2020

Author: Dr Pam Collins, Independent Consultant Occupational Physician

 

Dermatology condition

 

 

Vulnerability

 

 

references

 

Age 70 or above

Co-morbidity

Smoking

Renal impairment

Elevate to next level https://www.bad.org.uk/shared/get-file.ashx?itemtype=document&id=6647
Immuno-suppressants;- any two agents within the following classes:

Class 1

methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate (mycophenolate mofetil or mycophenolic acid), ciclosporin, fumaric acid esters (or dimethyl fumarate), hydroxycarbamide, 6-mercaptourine, leflunomide, cyclophosphamide, tacrolimus, sirolimus and thalidomide.

Class 2

Biologic/monocolonal medications include –all anti-TNF drugs (etanercept, adalimumab, infliximab, golimumab, certolizumab pegol and biosimilar variants of all of these, where applicable); IL17/IL17Ra agents (secukinumab; ixekizumab; brodalumab); P40/P19 (ustekinumab; guselkumab, tildrakizumab, risankizumab) anti B cell (rituximab in last 12 months, belimumab); IL6 agents (sarilumab, tocilzumab); abatacept; IL1 (canakinumab, anakinra);

Dupilumab possibly lower infection risk than other drugs)

Class 3

novel small molecule immunosuppressants

apremilast; all JAK inhibitors (e.g.) baracitinib, tofacitinib

Corticosteroid

• dose of ≥ 20 mg (or 0.5 mg/kg) prednisolone (or equivalent) per day for more than 4 weeks

• dose of ≥ 5 mg prednisolone (or equivalent) per day for more than 4 weeks plus at least one other immunosuppressive medication, from class 1, 2 or 3 drugs as listed above

Cyclophosphamide at any dose orally or if received IV dose within last 6 months

Rituximab or infliximab when prescribed primarily for skin conditions (e.g. psoriasis or pemphigus)

Very high https://www.bad.org.uk/shared/get-file.ashx?itemtype=document&id=6647
Well-controlled patients with minimal disease activity and no co-morbidities

single agent, standard oral immunosuppressants, class 1, 2 or 3

single biologic (e.g. anti-TNF, IL17 agent)class 2 plus methotrexate at a standard dose

single agent standard oral immunosuppressant class 1 plus hydroxychloroquine / sulfasalazine.

High https://www.bad.org.uk/shared/get-file.ashx?itemtype=document&id=6647
Medications on the following list alone or in combination:

• Topical skin treatments (creams, gels, etc).

• Hydroxychloroquine

• Acitretin

• Alitretinoin

• Isotretinoin

• Dapsone

• Chloroquine

• 5-ASA medications (e.g. mesalazine)

• Sulfasalazine

• Only inhaled or rectally administered immunosuppressant medication, e.g. steroid inhalers

• Omalizumab

Low https://www.bad.org.uk/shared/get-file.ashx?itemtype=document&id=6647

These tables have been produced by a group of occupational physicians from the Association of Local Authority Medical Advisers (ALAMA). They are ALAMA Guidelines. They have been published here because the ALAMA website is closed to non-members, and we wanted the tables to be accessible to all.

Vulnerability levels

Very high (Red)

risk of severe illness or death if contracts COVID-19

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/200321_COVID-19_CMO_MD_letter-to-GPs_FINAL_2.pdf
High (Orange)

likely to need hospitalisation if contracts COVID-19, with protracted illness and heavy NHS burden

https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200306-sitrep-46-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=96b04adf_2
Increased/Moderate (Yellow)

increased risk compared with healthy individual but should recover

Low/Standard (Green)

no greater risk than healthy individual